Scott Wykoff's Blog

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Ravens Mr Nice Guy

He's one of the Ravens best players. He's a team leader. He's as tough as they come. He's very involved in the community.

He's the Ravens Mr. Nice Guy.

His smile is infectious.

Right you are.

He's Derrick Mason.

And he's one of the big reasons the Ravens are heading to Nashville this weekend to play the Titans in the second round of the playoffs. It's kind of fitting that it is a trip back to where he started his NFL career as a player that Ravens fans used to love to hate when he was playing for Tennessee.

He truly appreciates all the Ravens fans who show purple passion for him and his teammates.

Now in his 4th season with the Ravens, Derrick Mason has made a name for himself in Baltimore as much for he does off the field as he does on Sunday afternoons at M&T Bank Stadium.

Back in 2005, what a coup it was for the Ravens and the people of Baltimore when Ozzie Newsome signed Mason as an unrestricted free agent. The first thing he did was move here to Baltimore with and make it his home.

Since that day he has been not only the Ravens leading receiver, but also one of the top receivers in the NFL and a real pillar in the Baltimore community. This year he has gone over the 10,000 yard mark for catches in his career. All while playing for the last 2 months with a dislocated shoulder.

How about The Derrick Mason Foundation. It was established to provide at-risk children and families in both the Baltimore area and the Nashville areas (where he played for the Titans for 8 years as an All-Pro before coming to the Ravens) with opportunities to pursue their dreams. The foundation provides and supports interactive programs and events that directly benefit children who face serious challenges in their lives, such as mental and/or physical challenges or the environment in which they live. And it's a family affair. His wife Marci helps run the foundation.

Annually, Mason hosts the Holiday Helpers event in December, and provides gift certificates and a unique shopping experience for Baltimore youth in need. He takes children shopping for Christmas presents, providing them with gift cards, and helping to make their holiday dreams come true.

CLICK HERE to see Derrick in action as he takes Baltimore-area youth Christmas shopping at the Pikesville Target for the 4th Annual Holiday Helpers in December 2008.

Derrick truly likes to sink his teeth into his job as a top flight wide receiver for the Ravens and he also likes to sink his teeth into his involvement into the community.

But he's not about just writing a check.

"It's not about giving a check, but actually being out there getting my hands dirty with so many volunteers. I'm blessed to be able to donate funds, but I'm really looking forward to striking a hammer and hauling mulch," said Mason after recently helping to landscape and rebuild homes in the area.

He's rebuilt homes in Sandtown for Habitat For Humanity. He's posed with rescued pets for a Friends of the Baltimore Animal Shelter calendar. He takes part in the Ravens' annual Goodwill Gridiron Halloween party benefiting Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake. A year ago Mason donated $25,000 to rebuilding together Baltimore, to renovate homes of families in need in Turners Station in Baltimore County. The list goes on. Not to mention all the projects he took part in while with the Titans in Tennessee.

I had a chance to talk with Derrick yesterday about what the Ravens fans mean to him and his teammates as they make their playoff run.